Orders are available for pick-up at Restaurant Nicholas at 160 Route 35 South Red Bank, NJ 07701 during the following times:
Monday: 9:30-3:30; Tuesday – Friday: 9:15am – 9:00pm; Saturday: 11:00am – 9:00pm; Sunday: Closed
$99.00
97+ Points- Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Partners in wine and in life, John Raytek and his wife, Phoebe Bass, are privileged to farm across three distinctively marginal climates and geologies: the Santa Cruz Mountains, the West Sonoma Coast, and the Anderson Valley. They are active participants in the daily cultivation of these sites, and in many cases they are the sole recipients of this prized fruit.
Since starting this project in 2005 when John left Arnot Roberts, the two have prioritized making exceptional single-vineyard wines from throughout the best locations in California that speak to the unique terroir of each site.
Their wine allocation waitlist is over two years long. A top sommelier at one of the best restaurants in California told the San Francisco Chronicle, “We take all they allocate to us, and we’ll take anyone else’s allocation who doesn’t want it. In a good year, he gets “nothing more than a couple cases” of Ceritas.
The reason for this is simple: over the course of the last decade plus, the husband and wife have combined to make some of the most interesting wines around. They have built a reputation largely on their Pinot Noir and Chardonnays but that is not the case with the 2016 Peter Martin Ray Vineyard bottling. Using the unique site, directly across from the famous, Montebello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains, they were able to make a wine that Antonio Galloni gave 97+ Points (his highest Ceritas score ever) and called it a tremendous showing and a “jewel of a wine”.
"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray Vineyard will thrill lovers of old-school California Cabernet. Bold, savory and super-expressive, the 2016 is also a fabulous expression of Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet. Sage, menthol, blackberry, olive tapenade, game and licorice are some of the many notes that run through the 2016. Classic in build and yet quite rich, the 2016 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. This is a tremendous showing from Ceritas."
Vinous
"I always hate to play favorites, but it’s hard to argue with how incredible the wines are that John Raytek and his wife Phoebe produce under the Ceritas label"
Agern Sommelier, Chad Walsh Forbes
Out of stock
97+ Points, Antonio Galloni- Vinous
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray Vineyard will thrill lovers of old-school California Cabernet. Bold, savory and super-expressive, the 2016 is also a fabulous expression of Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet. Sage, menthol, blackberry, olive tapenade, game and licorice are some of the many notes that run through the 2016. Classic in build and yet quite rich, the 2016 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. This is a tremendous showing from Ceritas.
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 90 Points, Decanter
Arguably their best quality to price wine is the Chianti Classico. It’s a bold and incredibly expressive Sangiovese that blends together a number of different parcels from around the estate. It’s got a beautiful silky smooth center with bright red fruits and even a tad of rusticity. A wine like this was just made to be enjoyed at the dinner table. With already a 90-point review from both Decanter and Wine Enthusiast, I’m assuming Antonio Galloni and company will come in with similar high praise, but I couldn’t wait around.
Now some of the best Pinot Noir in the world comes from the Yamhill-Carlton District (this small neck of the woods has earned its own AVA) and specifically from Shea Vineyards. Big name wineries clamor for fruit: Antica Terra, Beaux Freres, Bergstrom, Penner-Ash, & Sine Qua Non, to name a few. This Pinot is lights out and even given the pedigree, drinks several echelons higher. Blueberry, Blackberry, Blue Cheese (?!?), chanterelle mushrooms, lavender, mint – I could go on. It’s literally got it all, but I won’t spoil it for you.
90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Xavier Vignon’s brand spanking new CDR 100% is a thing of beauty. It’s already got a blessing from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate who described this wine as, “Full-bodied, concentrated and supple”. This is a gorgeous and intricate blend that features all of the Southern Rhone appellations. This year, the blend was 40% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 7% Cinsault, 7% Marselan, 6% Terret Noir. Nobody can do it like the mad scientist, Xavier Vignon.
The second year of this elegant, silky smooth Willamette Valley Pinot Noir crafted by Bertrand de Villane of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti fame. Again it comes from the gorgeous Winter’s Hill Estate about 700 feet above sea level in the Dundee Hills. All indications are that the 2019 is going to be one of the best for Pinot Noir since 1991. A flawless summer that benefited from very little rain mixed with cool, breezy summer nights. With a round, supple mouthfeel and a sturdy backbone this will age gracefully for a decade plus. Bertrand’s wines just have a signature stamp that is unmistakably his. This is phenomenal.
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